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M.A. Internship

The internship, typically completed the summer between the first and second years, gives students the chance to build professional skills and experience during the course of the degree program to set them apart in the job market following graduation. Students will have access to VIMS connections for internships but also have the opportunity to seek out internship experiences on their own with approval by the program director. 

M.A. student internships have encompassed a variety of marine science applications and have been held with organizations in a wide array of geographic locations. The internship opportunity is designed to fit the individual student's interests and career path. Read on to learn about internships held by current and former M.A. students. 

 

Claudia during a classroom visit during her summer internship

Claudia Moncada, M.A. '23

"I interned for the summer on Virginia’s Eastern Shore helping The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve form relationships and channels of communication with the Shore’s Spanish-speaking residents. I updated and translated an existing audio guide and map for the Brownsville Preserve and updated the Spanish-language trail guide that is free at the trailhead. I also put on an event during Latino Conservation Week in July where we offered a picnic lunch on the preserve and bilingual trail rides. When I wasn’t working directly on these projects, I assisted the Outreach and Education team with high school classroom visits and field trips out to the barrier islands, and helped run the 9-12 year-old nature camp.

The best parts about the experience were definitely the new people I met and getting to be the one to kick-start a relationship with an entire community. I felt like my time and accomplishments there were meaningful and would remain so after I left."

Anna on the Eastern Shore during M.A. summer internship

Anna Caputo, M.A. '23

"I did my internship with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve working with their marine summer camps and camp LAUNCH, a program for high achieving but underserved students. I spent the summer teaching campers about marine topics affecting the Bay, such as water quality, climate change, and biodiversity, all while learning the ins and outs of running a successful summer camp. The most rewarding part of this experience was seeing the impact I was having on the kids, especially the older ones who wanted advice for pursuing a career in marine science."

Kacey during virtual congressional briefing

Kacey Hirshfeld, M.A. '23

"This summer I interned with the Coastal States Organization (CSO) in Washington, DC on their Federal Affairs team. CSO represents the interests of the 35 coastal states and territories, and the Federal Affairs team has been focused on trying to get the Coastal Zone Management Act reauthorized. My role included planning and moderating a virtual briefing for Congressional staffers as well as coordinating site visits in states across the Nation for Congressional members and their staff during the August recess. In addition to these events, I also drafted letters of support for emerging legislation, summarized hearings, and met with Congressional staffers on both sides of the aisle.

I found it very valuable to get to work with stakeholders on both sides of coastal zone management issues, from the Federal policymakers to the state representatives on-the-ground. I also enjoyed getting to work with states across the U.S. and hear about the issues most relevant and concerning for them."

Will at ROSA conference

Will Shoup, M.A. '23

“I interned at the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) this summer. My project was to do a deep dive into regional data standards related to fisheries in offshore wind areas as a part of ROSA’s goal to assemble a regional guidance document (including the data standards) that improves communication between data and advances research in the area. I also worked to put together a hybrid meeting that ROSA hosted at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) State of the Science conference in July. 

Interning with ROSA also provided me with some fantastic networking opportunities. Throughout the summer I sat in on meetings with various stakeholders, where I was introduced to people across industries and agencies. In addition to the State of the Science conference in July, I was also invited to join ROSA at AFS in Spokane, WA in August.  These experiences gave me a look into the day-to-day of a marine science professional."

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